(HOT) Family Photoshoot!

Griffin's birthday weekend was a busy one, indeed!  We all had so much fun celebrating with family and friends.  The following day, we met up with our photographer, Heather, to get some shots of the family, and capture Griffin entering into his "toddlerhood." She captured some really cute moments!

The week prior, Payton got scraped up, banged up, bruised, and snacked on by many mosquitoes.  Griffin had a bump on his head, and I, the one who never gets zits, had an unwelcome visitor on my chin.  Griffin took an awesome nap that day (2-5pm), and he was in a great mood! Payton, however, took less than an hour nap, and wouldn't let anyone besides me, touch her.  Fussy-fussy pants!  She finally warmed up, at the end of the shoot, when the promise of cake was made :)  All of that aside, I think the pictures turned out really cute...thanks to Heather, and her awesome editing abilities :)

Please enjoy these...hopefully we'll have some of these on our walls (crossing fingers) in a new house in the near future!  Now the hard part...deciding which, of these, to put on canvas!

 We have all had some type of cold/sinus/allergy sickness going around our house, and our friend's houses, in the past week.  It's super contagious, but isn't horrible, and seems to come and go quickly.  I've been running as much as time allows, in preparation for my November half-marathon.  Now, let's all cross our fingers that I don't sleep through this one!!  I'll probably be the first one there!  (I signed up to run the Southpark Half back in April, and somehow set my alarm 30 minutes too late....let's just say lots of tears were shed that morning when I arrived at the start line 5 minutes after the gun went off.  VERY disappointed in myself!)  WILL.NOT.HAPPEN.AGAIN.  Anyway, I haven't had time for blog updates in a couple weeks, so here's some pictures, stories, and videos of late...

Payton and Griffin have had a LOT of birthday cake lately...Sam's birthday, then Wes', then Granby's, and then they went to Carter's 6th birthday party last weekend.  It was at the new Lake Wylie "Bowl and Bounce."  Funny name, awesome place!  NEW bowling balls and shoes.  NEW bounce houses.  The kids had a blast!  They have 6 lb balls for the little ones, teensie little bowling shoes, and in addition to putting up the gutter blocks, they have this cool frame that helps guide the ball onto the lane.  Payton and Daddy had a blast with that, but the highlight for all the kids was the bounce house room.  Separately from the bowling alley, but connected, there is a bounce house room with FIVE huge play areas, slides, obstacles, etc.  This is THE place for kids of all ages.  Arcade, bowling, bouncing, and BEER!

Notice all those mosquito bites?  Those damn things love our kids.  #westnilestayaway

Not bad!  Probably better than Mommy can do!

Griffin and Unca Christopher (Carter's dad)

UH-Dorbs!!

Happy birthday to CARTER!

Another exciting event over the past week....SCHOOL has started for both kids!  This is Griffin's first time at a Mother's Morning Out, and a new place for both kids.  They are attending MMO at Sardis Presbyterian Church, my parent's church, and where I grew up attending.  They both LOVE LOVE LOVE it so far!  (And MY Mom is loving the much needed break!)

Miss Malinda, one of Griffin's new teachers

Miss Sandra, one of Payton's teachers

Trampoline time!

This is Payton's room.  This was the "meet and greet" with the teachers.  Griffin blended in quite well, but his classroom is just a few doors down.

It's football season again.  YAY!  We are all excited to see how our teams perform this year, and the kids are as "into" it as they can be, at their young ages.  Payton pulls for the Tarheels and Patriots (and if you ask her to pull for another team, she will quickly say NO, and tell you who she pulls for!)  Griffin seems to be a Virginia Tech and Bears fan, following in his Dad's footsteps.  I think that boy needs some Carolina BLUE stat!  (hint hint!)  So, here's my boyfriend after game one, coming out on top (with a busted nose) over Tennessee.  Don't worry, it's cool.  Brian knows ALL about our relationship ;)

TB with Daniel Fells

These two LOVE to play with each other these days.  Payton tries to pick Griffin up around his neck, so we're working on that :)  I love how close they are in age, and I think they will grow up very close to each other, and I hope they will be the best of friends!

One morning, we met Julie and her kids at Sardis Park.  The kids had a blast.  I love playground pictures, so bear with me...

Gavin (8), Riley (12), and Griffin (1)

Jacob (14 months), Griffin (12 months)

Griffin is busy trying to get this walking thing figured out.  He knows how it goes, and he's slowly building his confidence.  He secretly told me that he's just waiting for the right moment then he's going to take OFF and outrun all of the other kids :)

 Our cutie pies:

HE picked out the hat.  Not kidding.

Daddy made a birthday cake for GRANBY!  Happy birthday to our Granby!

Eating a tomato we picked right off the plant at the Collin's house

She wanted to have the towel on her head like mommy

Payton and Madi wrestling and playing (notice their rings)

Payton's third visit to the dentist.  This time she allowed the hygienist to clean her teeth.

She did NOT like the "bib," nor did she care for the dentist.  She pretty much screamed the entire time he was examining her, then he had to give her a fluoride treatment...all while Daddy and Mommy pinned her down. We felt awful!  The good news, her teeth look great!  #nofunforanyofus

Once a month, or so, Nana and Granddude (or "DOOOOD" as Payton calls him) come to keep the kids.  They are in town this week to help us out, as Granby, Grumps, Brian, and I have a wedding to attend, for our good friends, Shana and Lucian, tomorrow.  I'm even letting Payton skip school today to play!  They are all enjoying themselves, as seen in the pictures below!  They stayed for dinner last night and we are taking them to the Greek Festival tonight...watch out baklava and loukamades.  I'm going to put a hurtin' on you!

And, here's another cute video.  Griffin LOVES to climb, and he especially loves climbing on the step stools we have in the bathrooms.  On this day, I caught him "primping."  We are doomed.  For real.

 

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy this fall-like weather!